Clockwork



P. S. LARSON.

CLOCKWURK.

umcmon FILED mw 2a, mi.

Patented Feb. 28, 1922.

Snowdon laffvw/ UNTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER snaiisoiv, oF B nnor, wsoloNsiN.

applicati@ mea May-2s, 1921. seri-a1 No. 473,228.

To @Il whom t may concern:

Beit known that I,- PE'rER S. VLARSN, a: citizen of the :United States, residing at' Beloit, inthe county of Rock andState of Wisconsin, have Ainvented certain new and useful Improvements in Clockworks; and

I do declare the followingto be aifull; clear, and exact'description of thev iriventi0n`,=sucli as will enable others skilled in vthe art to which it appertains toimake and.. use the Same. .t I .5fv11 i VThis invention relates to an Vimproved construction in elockworli's and one object ofA the invention is to provide a clock `having spring driving mechanism for the .time gearing and spring driving mechanism for the alarm gearing which `will be interchangeable with the spring'drivi'ng mechanism for the time gearing thus permitting the driving.

mechanism for the alarm mechanism to-be substituted for the drivin mechanism of-the time gearing in case the driving mechanism for the time gearing should become broken or out of order. f I f, Another object of the invention is to s0 construct this clockwork that each yof the spring driving mechanisms maynbe bodily removable through-an enlarged opening in the rear plate of the gear earryingitrame.`

Another object of theinvention is to so construct the spring driving mechanism that the spring thereof will be enclosed in a spring cup loosely mounted upon a main shaft which further carries a main gear having a disk rigid therewithvand forming a closure for the open end of the spring cup, the disk and cup being interlocked so that the cup which will be rotated from the spring may transmit rotary movementfto the large or main gear through the medium of the disk closing the open end of the cup. Another object of the invention is to so construct the clockwork that'the-fhammer carrying rocker shaft-of the alarrnmechanism may have one end journalled in the forward plate of the'gear framer and the second end portion journalled in a bearing carried h v a bearing strip`r0tatably mounting the main shaft of the springr power mechanism of the alarm .thus permitting the hammer carrying sha ft to be easily4 removed when desired. by simply releasing the bear ing strip. f

Another object of the invention-is to provide a mechanism of the tvpe set forth which will be ver)7 compact in construction.

j Another object rof. the invention is to so construct' the driving mechanism or power mechanism .that the main 'shaft thereof may be lrotatedwhen .'windingin the same direction thatthe cup moves when the clock is.

in operation.`

Anothenobjectofthe invention is to pro-I vide"improved pavvl and :ratchet means fo holdingdthe springs Wound;

This invention is illustrated Ain the ac-A companying drawings, wherein; V

Figure 11s a View showing therearclosure plate of the clock casingremoved andthe clockworks in 4rear elevation. I

` Figure 2 is .a view showing the Casin in section and the clockvvorks in side elevation. Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lineal-3 of Fig. 2 with parts omitted. I

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Figure 5 is a` perspective showing the mounting for the rear end of the hammer carrying rockenshaft of the alarm mechanism.

This improved clock structure includes a casing l whichA is provided with a rear wall 2 orclosure plate. which is removably held in place sothat it can be removed when desired. The clockworks are ,mounted Ainlthis casing 1 and will be provided with the usual dial 3 and frame forcarrying the gearing. The gearing for the most part is ,of a con-i ventional construction andis mountedbetween the two plates 4 and 5, the plate 4 being the forward plate and the plate 5 the rear plate. AThis rear plate 5 is provided with enlarged openings 6 and 7 through whichthe Spring driving or power mechanism may be removed as will be hereinafter brought out. Bearing strips 8 are Secured to the rear plate 5 for removal therefrom and these strips 8 extend across the openings 6 and T as shown in Fig. 1. It should4 be noted that one of these plates is provided with an offset 9 at one end in which will be provided a bearing 10 to receivethe end of the rocker Sha ft l1 which carries the hammer l2. The plate 5 is broken away at this point sothat the rocker shaft can be rcadil)l removed when the strip 8 0f the alarm gearing is removed.

Since the spring power or driving mechnnism for thel time gearing is identical with that for the alarm gearing. a description of ontl ivill sullire for both and therefore it will be understood that the followingvdrescription applies to both of the spring driving mechanisms. This driving mechanism includesa, shaft 13 which is enlarged intermediate its lengthV asl sliownat l to. provide abutment shoulders at the ends of' the enlargements. One end portion of the-shaft' isithneaded as shown at 15 and a squared portion 16 is provided so that a ratchet lh'may be l'ield against rotating upon the shaft.' Afile sprin'g cup 1,8 is loosely mounted upon this shatll and is provided with a hiiibf portion which lits closely uponthe sha-ft between the enlargement 14 and the bearing strip 8" which fits upon the shaft andengages tl'ie'llmbV portion of the cup. After the strip 8 hasbeen placed upon the shaft, the ratchet wheeli 177isput i-n place and* a securing'` mit- 1'9' is then screwed upon the Shaft to engagetlieN ratchet wheel and hold the ratchet Wheelfuponthe squared portion ofthe shaft. Ai spring 2G isplaced within -the cup 1,8 about the shaft andl'ias its inner convolution connectedwith the shaft and its outer convolution connected' with the cup as shown in Fig, 4'. It will thus be seen that when the shaft is rotated; the spring may be Wound. In order to hold the spring wound, there hasr been provided a pawl 21 which is pivots-lh7 connected-witli the Strip 8 and has its free endY portion which engages the ratchetlprov'idedf` with an opening through which will' extend the spring QZfor holding the puivl in engage` ment with tlieratchet. By having the spring pass through an opening formed in the pawl, there is no danger of the springrslipping out of engagement with the pawl. It should be further noted that the pawly and: ratchet are mounted to the rear of the spring 8 where they may be efisil)1 reached when necessary. The large gear 23 is provided with ahuh 24 which lits upon the shaft 13 between the enlargements 14 and the fomvaid: plate 4 and carries a disk 25 whichfits iii-to the cup 18 to close the open endthei'eof. This disk 25 is provided with side lugs 2,6 which fit into notches 27 formed in the cup and thus provide interlocking engagement bev tween the disk and cup so that. the disk will turn the cup and thus rotary motion be transmitted to the huh andgear 23 from the hen assembling, the cu will first be placed upon the shaft and tie spring co nnected with the cup and shaft. The stri 8 Will then he put in place upon the sliatit and after this strip isin place the ratchet wheel will be placed upon the shaft and secured by incansof the nut 19 so that it cannot more olf of the squared poition of the shaft` The shalt and cup will then be passed through the openings of the plate 5 and the Shaft passed through the hub 24 of the gear 23 and the lugs 26 positioned in the notches 2T of the cup, The bearing strip willthen be secured upon the plate 5. After each of the driving mechanisms has beenfassembled as brought out, the clock- Worlis will be placed in the casing 1 and the rear Wall 2 will be put in place with the securin rods 28 passi throii h o nin inithis. walL Lt'isnogf coursegundgii'stogd that the clockworks can be connected with the rear wall before the rear Wall isfconnectedf with theieasing iff-so desired:v When the cloelrworks are/connected with, theirearwall, the gong 29Wil1=v be positienedibetwen, the securing rods crl'bolta 2BA and. tliehamf mer 12 .will be positionedl wfitliifnr the gungand` wil-lf strike. thegong, when in operation. The winding-keys Willl be pnt: in. place-upon the shafts 131 and will befturned the: right in Fig. 1 tol rotate the shafts and Winds the springs. After the spring has beenweund, the springs willi have; a tendency-'to cause the cups bo also `tufrn tothe-right and as these cups turn, rotary moirementwill': be transmitted to theigenrsp tooperatethe time gearing and alarm gearing.` If: the spring of the driving or power mechanism for the time gearing should break, the se-. curingfnuts forthe strips. 8 can be removed? after the back has been released from the. rods 28 and' thestrips Wilt: earr-y with themthe cups and springs aindmlso tliertvio shafts when emovedi T he. genis 23iofthe.alanm geariiigcan be put away temporarily andthe stripj cup, spring and sli-(rfa of the alarm gearingsubstitud for those of the time gearing untila newsprin yfor the time gear-1 ing can be obtained. i honi this strip for thev alarm' gearing is removed the rocker shaft 1I willl be released andcaii be removed and pnt airway Withthe gear 23; It will thus be seen that the power-or driving mechanism of the alarm gearing can be substituted fortlie power mechanism of the time gearing thus saving: n greati deut ofinconvenience' since the clock can still operate while a new power unit is bein-g obtained or necessary repairs made.

l claim:

I. t clock-work, mmprisingy a frame including a plate providedA withA an,Y enlarged opening, gearing'in said' frame, and a, power mechanism for said'r gearing, the power mechanism being removable in a bod-y through the opening of said plate andi incliidingba shaft and. a bearing for the shaft remove ly connected Vwith the plate andlex.- tending across tlieopening.

2. A clockwork comprising a frame in.- clliding a plate provided with enlarged openings, time gearing i-n said frame, alarm gearing in said frame, and interchangeable power mechanism for the time and alarm gearing, the power mechanisms being each removable in a body through one of Said openings and' each of said mechanismsy including a shaft and a bearing strip for the shaft removably carried by the plate and extending across the opening.

3. A clockworks comprising a frame including a forward plate and a rear plate having enlarged openings formed therein, removable bearing strips extending across said openings, time gearing and alarm gearing between said plates and each including as its driving power a rotatable shaft journaled in the forward plate and one of said strips, a gear loose upon said shaft, a spring cup loose upon said shaft, a disk carried by said ar and closing said cup and releasab y engaging said cup for turning with the cup, a spring in the cup connected with the cup and shaft, a ratchet carried by the shaft and a pawl carried by the strip for engaging said ratchet, the shaft, spring and cup being removable with the strip, and the strip, cup and spring of the alarm gearing being interchangeable with the strip, cup and spring of the time gearing.

4. A clockworks including a frame, gearin mounted therein and including a rotatale spring shaft, a driving gear loose upon said shaft, a cup loose upon said shaft, a. coiled spring in the cup having connection With the shaft and cup, a closure disk for the cup rigid with said gear and having interlocking engagement with the cup, a bearing carried by said frame and provided with an opening receiving said shaft, the bearing engaging the cup to hold the cup in interlocking engagement with said disk, a ratchet carried by said shaft, and a pawl carried by said strip and engaging said ratchet.

5. A clockworks comprising a frame having a forward plate and a rear plate prov1 e d with an enlarged opening, a bearingl removably carried by said rear plate and extending across the opening, gearing between said plates including a shaft rotatably carried by the bearing and forward plate and removable with said bearing, a spring cup loose upon said shaft and open at one end, a gear wheel loose upon the shaft, a

drive spring in the cup having connection with the cup and shaft, a closure disk for the open end of the cup rigid with the gear and having interlocking engagement with the cup, a ratchet carried by said shaft and a pawl carried by Said bearing and engaging said ratchet.

6. The combination with the structure of claim 5, of alarm mechanism including a hammer carrying rocker shaft positioned between the plates and having one end journalled in the forward plate and its second end journalled in said bearing for permitting removal of the rocker shaft when the bearing is removed.

7. A clockworks including a frame having a forward plate and a rear plate provided with an enlarged opening, a bearing strip removably carried by the rear plate and extending across the opening, gearing between said platesincluding a main shaft journalled in the forward plate and strip and extending rearwardly of the strip, a spring cup loose upon said shaft and open at one end, a main gear loose upon said shaft, a spring in the cup coiled about said shaft and connected with the cup and shaft, a disk rigid with said gear and fitting into the open end of said cup and provided with side tongues fitting into notches of the cup to interlock the cup and gear for turning together, a ratchet carried by said shaft against the outer face of said strip and a pawl carried by said strip and engaging said ratchet, the shaft and cup being removable through the opening of the rear plate when the strip is released.

8. The Structure of claim 7 having the shaft enlarged between the cup and disk to provide abutment shoulders limiting movement of the cup and gear toward each other, the outery portion of the shaft being reduced to provide an abutment shoulder engaged by the ratchet.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set m hand.

y PETER S. LARSON. 

